Shambhala 2016 Retrospective: The Weekend of our Lives

Wasn’t that fun? Shambhala 2016, the 19th annual music festival nestled along the Salmo River in British Columbia, was one for the ages. Shambhala Music Festival is renowned for its one-of-a-kind atmosphere, and the crew in charge is consistently able to create a unique environment and experience each summer at The Farm. In an industry inundated with corporate sponsorship, which also happens to lack in originality, Shambhala sets itself apart from the rest in a variety of ways.

Even more incredible: they do it every year. Whether Shambhala 2016 was our first, second, or seventh trip home, didn’t matter. From the artists performing to the aesthetic changes to the festival, Shambhala once again proved to be our favorite of the year. We weren’t the only ones impressed with the locally-ran outfit, as many of the artists performing gave Shambhala a resounding thumbs up.

While we’re obviously looking forward to what next year, the 20th anniversary of Shambhala, has in-store, we’ll gladly spend time reminiscing about one of the best weekends of our lives. Featuring artists like Andy C, Excision, Ghastly, Marshmello, Boys Noize, Caspa, Rusko, Snails, Questlove, Getter, REZZ, Mija, and dozens of other amazing acts, it’s not exactly surprising the festival was so much fun. Yet, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that many don’t take into account, and that’s where Shambhala shines.

In our glance back at Shambhala 2016, we’re not-only looking at the fantastic performances we were treated to throughout the weekend, but the environment we were blessed to experience those performances in as well. From quicker line-wait-times to stage upgrades, and more than a few incredible sets, there’s a lot to cover. Above it all, one thought rises above the rest: Shambhala 2016 was one of the best weekends of our lives.

The Pagdoa – Photo Credit: Joffrey Middleton-Hope

Our review is featuring photos exclusively from Joffrey Middleton-Hope. You’ve seen his work throughout our Shambhala-related articles in the past, and now we’re working together to commemorate our time at Shambhala this summer. You can check out more of his fantastic work on his official website, and can follow the Vancouver-based artist over on Facebook as well.

We would also like to take a moment to thank Britz, Eve, and the entire Shambhala crew for their guidance and help this year. We can’t imagine Shambhala without the amazing people behind the scenes, and we’re happy to know our favorite festival is in more than capable hands. We’ll have more post-Shambhala coverage on the way as well, keeping track of all of those valuable live-sets, as well as dreaming up our wish-list for Shambhala20. Until then, check out our thoughts on Shambhala 2016!

About DMNW

Dance Music Northwest is an award-winning media company, providing our users editorials, new music, events, club and DJ listings, and nightlife intelligence. Dance Music Northwest also actively lobbies for common sense harm reduction measures at the individual, festival, and city levels.